Show Down Friday

As expected both Rocky Mount and Northern Nash's girls won their semifinal games tonight leading to a showdown between the Top two seeds from the Big East with the #1 seed in the sectionals on the line. Normally the #1 seed always belongs to the team that finishes first in the regular season regardless of what happens in the tournament but since both finished tied for first the #1 seed in the sectional playoffs goes to Friday's winner.

The home Gryphons passed the ball tonight as if the balls were in slow motion there was no crispness in their passes and and it lead to 26 turnovers to 16 for Hunt and it kept the #4 seed Hunt Warriors in the game until the last few minutes. Rocky Mount dominated the boards winning that 38-16.

Coach Pam Gainey went with a big lineup tonight using Kushunn Seabreeze in the middle and bringing Ty'ais Cooper off the bench. If you look at teams at any level of sports when they have a long winning streak snapped like the Lady Gryphons did last week in their lost at home to Northern the Ladies looked as if they lacked confidence. Despite that they Beat Hunt 49-39.

Tia Hudgins and J'Kyra Brown took it upon themselves to score when Rocky Mount needed it and got rebounds. Hudgins scored 16 and recovered 9 boards while Brown had a double double 14 points and ten Rebounds.. Marquita Hines had ten in support.

Quenesha Brown and Lizzy Madden each had 12 for Hunt. DaNesha White lead Hunt with 5 rebounds. Tamisha Walker had 7 boards for the Gryphons so Rocky Mount had three players with more rebounds than Hunt's leader.

The nightcap was almost a replay of the first game as Fike hung close to Northern Nash but Northern pulled away late to win 59-49, Neither team wanted to keep the ball as Northern had 28 turnovers and still won the game. Fike didn't help their cause having 23 to's. Northern won the rebounding battle 27-17.

The star of the game for Northern was Jasmine Griffin as she had open two foot shots all night long scoring 23 and she dominated the boards gobbling up 10. Meredith Pruden and Alicia Baines kept Fike in the game putting in 15 points a piece.

Friday night it's Northern against Rocky Mount for all the Tournament marbles. Girls play at six and the boys hit the floor ten minutes after the girls game is over.

Northern will be without backup point guard Amanda Griffin Friday night as she in taking part in the State Junior Miss Scholarship Program in Greensboro. Today the girls went through the interview with the judges which is a big part of the program. Tonight they had dress rehearsals getting ready for the finals Friday night. GOOD LUCK AMANDA!